Director of engineering Jobs in Chicago, IL

Director of Automation Engineering

We are seeking an experienced Director of Automation Engineering to lead the strategy, development, implementation, and optimization of automation systems across multiple manufacturing facilities.

This senior engineering leader will drive automation initiatives that improve productivity, reliability, quality, safety, sustainability, and operational performance. The role will oversee technologies including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, robotics, motion control, industrial networking, and Industry 4.0 solutions.

The Director will partner closely with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Information Technology, and external technology partners to deliver automation projects from concept and design through commissioning, startup, and ongoing optimization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an enterprise-wide automation strategy aligned with manufacturing and business objectives.
• Lead the design, specification, integration, and optimization of PLC, HMI, SCADA, robotics, motion control, and industrial control systems.
• Oversee automation capital projects from scope development and budgeting through implementation, commissioning, and startup.
• Establish consistent automation engineering standards, programming practices, documentation requirements, and maintenance strategies across facilities.
• Lead FAT/SAT activities, equipment validation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and operator training.
• Drive adoption of Industry 4.0, IIoT, smart manufacturing, industrial analytics, and connected-factory technologies.
• Integrate process, packaging, utility, and production systems to improve equipment performance and data visibility.
• Partner with IT and cybersecurity teams to strengthen manufacturing cybersecurity and IT/OT integration.
• Manage automation vendors, OEMs, contractors, and system integrators, including project deliverables, contracts, schedules, and performance.
• Identify emerging automation technologies and evaluate opportunities to improve productivity, quality, reliability, and sustainability.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to automation and controls engineering teams across multiple sites.
• Support continuous improvement, root-cause analysis, and reliability initiatives involving automated manufacturing systems.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive automation or controls engineering experience in manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale automation design, integration, commissioning, and startup projects.
• Strong knowledge of PLC programming, HMI/SCADA platforms, industrial networking, robotics, motion control, and industrial control systems.
• Experience leading cross-functional engineering teams, contractors, OEMs, and system integrators.
• Proven project management experience, including budgets, schedules, risk management, and vendor relationships.
• Working knowledge of industrial cybersecurity, IT/OT convergence, and manufacturing data systems.
• Experience developing engineering standards, technical documentation, and automation best practices.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, communication, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in an engineering or related technical discipline.
• Experience in CPG, food and beverage, FMCG, or other high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Experience with smart manufacturing, digital transformation, and IIoT initiatives.
• Familiarity with MES, historians, advanced analytics, and enterprise manufacturing systems.
• Experience supporting automation programs across multiple manufacturing sites.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Automation Leadership
• Controls & Automation Engineering
• Capital Project Management
• Digital Transformation
• Robotics & Motion Control
• Industrial Networking
• Manufacturing Operations
• Continuous Improvement
• Industrial Cybersecurity
• Vendor & Contractor Management
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Operational Excellence
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Change Management
• Communication & Team Development

What Success Looks Like

In this role, success means establishing a scalable automation strategy, improving consistency across manufacturing sites, delivering capital projects safely and effectively, increasing equipment reliability and productivity, and building a strong technical organization capable of supporting the company's long-term manufacturing and digital transformation objectives.